A GUIDE FOR EXPORTERS OF USED GOODS
2516
2009
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This brochure contains important
information from the EUCorrespondents’ Guidelines No. 1,
Competent Authorities and other
relevant sources.
Used goods from industrialised countries have become increasingly sought-after commodities in some developing countries. This
has also led to a massive flow of obsolete electrical and electronic
equipment (e-waste) to some developing countries. Some of this
equipment contains hazardous substances that can have serious
consequences on the environment and human health - especially
when they end up as waste and/or are improperly managed. Shipments of these items are therefore strictly regulated in Norway and
within the European Union (EU). So before you export such goods,
please note that:
• your shipment may be classified as «waste» and therefore treated as an illegal
waste shipment by waste regulation authorities or customs.
Only good quality used goods that do not contain substances prohibited by law, can be
legally exported from Norway and the EU to developing countries. It is not always easy to
distinguish between used goods and waste. This guidance brochure attempts to bridge this
information gap by highlighting some of the dos and don’ts of shipment of used goods.
This will help exporters to differentiate between high and poor quality used goods.
This brochure is meant for all those involved in the export of «used goods» – private
persons, companies, organisations and carriers.
WASTE OR «USED GOODS»?
The central question is – «when is a used item classified as waste?» To make this decision it
is necessary to examine the life history of an item on a case by case basis. In addition, there
are a number of important considerations mentioned in this brochure that need to be taken
into account.
WHAT IS WASTE?
According to section 27 of the Norwegian Pollution Control Act, the term «waste» means
discarded objects of personal property or substances. Surpluses from service industries,
manufacturing industries and treatment plants, etc. are also considered as waste.
2
WHAT IS ILLEGAL WASTE SHIPMENT?
It is generally prohibited under the Norwegian Waste Regulation to export waste to developing countries. But there are some exceptions under certain conditions. Please, contact the
Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT) for more information.
The EU’s Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 on shipment of waste, which is implemented in
Norway (see chapter 13 of the Norwegian Waste Regulation), has set out legal requirements and measures to facilitate the prevention and detection of illegal waste shipments.
As a result, customs and other law enforcement officers in some European countries have
recently stopped several shipments of used goods from leaving Europe. The contents were
considered as waste and therefore illegal waste shipment in accordance with Reg. (EC) No
1013/2006.
As a rule, if a shipment is regarded as illegal by a transit country in Europe and sent back to
Norway, the cost arising from the return of the consignment, including transport, storage
and recovery or disposal, shall be charged to the exporter pursuant to chapter 13 of the
Norwegian Waste Regulation. The same rule applies to containers or vehicles detained or
stopped in Norway.
- So make sure that you are shipping «used goods» and not «waste».
IN ORDER TO SHIP USED GOODS FROM NORWAY IN A LEGAL WAY,
PLEASE CHECK THE LIST BELOW:
• The item must be in functional order (i.e. the item must be evaluated and fully tested)
• The item is highly marketable
• The item does not contain a substance that is prohibited by law
• The age of the item is reasonable (relatively new technology)
• The outward /external appearance of the item does not show any waste characteristics
• The packaging/packing is sufficient for protection during transport, loading and unloading
• Copies of receipts or contracts relating to the sale and/or transfer of ownership can be
provided
3
ITEMS THAT SHOULD NOT BE EXPORTED
PICTORIAL EXAMPLES OF SOME GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WASTE
If the used item(s) being exported shows any of the characteristics below, the shipment will
be regarded as an illegal shipment.
A used item will be
considered as waste if:
• It is not complete
– essential parts are
missing;
4
The cassette holder is missing
The speaker cover is missing
Vacuum cleaner without hose
Display cover is missing
• It shows physical
damage (burned parts,
broken pieces, distorted
cables) that impairs its
functionality or safety;
or
The appearance is
generally worn or
damaged, thus reducing
the marketability of the
item(s);
Defect radiator
Do not export worn-out tyres
Defect pressure washers
• There is no regular
market for the used
item;
Be smart! Do not export an item that has a low marketable value.
For example: Gas stoves are widely used in Ghana. Therefore, shipping electric stoves to
Ghana with its high electricity tariffs may be the same as shipping waste there. In other
words, there is no regular market for electric stoves in Ghana.
5
• The item contains
a substance that is
prohibited by law (e.g.
CFCs, halon, PCB,
asbestos);
Sections 6-7 of the Norwegian
Product Regulations prohibit
the export of products and
equipment that may contain
CFCs, halon, tetrachloromethane,
HBFCS etc.
Do not export fridges, air-conditioners, freezers, cooling boxes, fire
extinguishers and anything that might contain or use ozone depleting substances such as CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and halons.
HOW CAN ONE TELL IF AN ITEM CONTAINS AN OZONE DEPLETING
SUBSTANCE?
Most fridges and freezers are marked with an «appliance rating plate» - a metal plate or
sticky label which is found either on the back or interior of the appliance or on the compressor as shown below. Before 1996, most extinguishing agents, propellants and solvents
contained CFCs or halons. R12 for example indicates the presence of CFC.
Do not export
equipment marked
with the following
codes: R11, R12, R 13,
R 114, R 500, R 502,
R 503, FR 10 A.
Fridge compressor marked with R12
The fridge is working properly and looks «new» too. But its compressor uses CFC gas. It
should not therefore be exported. As a matter of precaution, do not export spare parts of
fridges or freezers regardless of whether they contain CFCs or not.
NB: Do not export PCB-oil containing transformers (polychlorinated biphenyls).
6
• The item is destined
for disposal or recycling
instead of re-use;
Collected items from the take-back system
• The item is old and
out-dated
Outdated electric sewing-machines
Outdated radio
Do not export old fridges, TVs, computers, video-recorders, cassette players etc.
One must think about RAM,
capacity, processor type,
speed and other important
specifications of a computer
before exporting them to
traders, family members or
institutions in developing
countries.
Old computers for example, have low memory and are so slow that they are basically useless or waste. Their monitors also contain a lot of toxic substances.
Please note that many consumers in developing countries are no longer interested in old
or outdated equipment. Many of these old items are simply not marketable. A very good
example is the shift from the use of video-recorders to DVD players in some developing
countries.
Do not export old mobile phones and /or
mobile phones with weak batteries (short
lifespan).
These weak or «waste batteries» are usually
improperly disposed of. Batteries contain a
range of metals which are harmful to human
health and the environment.
7
• Further use of the item
is not certain
Avoid equipment or parts of equipment destined for dismantling (for spare parts).
• The packaging for
protecting it from
damage during
transport, loading and
unloading operations is
insufficient;
Package and pack your goods as if they were new. Insufficient packaging and reckless
packing are not acceptable.
The following are unacceptable:
Do not put 2 or 3 tyres in one tyre
8
USED VEHICLES/END-OF-LIFE VEHICLES
AND SPARE PARTS
Gone are the days when almost all types of cars regardless of age, condition etc. could be
sent out of Europe. Sending waste end-of-life vehicles to developing countries is illegal.
General criteria for distinguishing between used vehicles (or car spare parts) and
end-of-life vehicles
a) the technical state of the vehicle (or car spare parts eg. engines, gearbox etc);
b) cost of repair;
c) the presence or absence of liquids or hazardous components
EXPORT OF USED VEHICLES
In order to ship used vehicles from Norway in a legal way, please check the list below:
• The vehicle meets the legal requirements to drive on public roads in Norway
• The vehicle does not have extensive rust on major parts of the body
• The vehicle has all tyres in place
• The body of the vehicle is not heavily damaged
• The vehicle is not welded together with another vehicle
• The vehicle has no leaks
• Essential parts of the vehicle are not missing or damaged. Good engine and gearbox
• Official vehicle registration certificate and sales contracts/receipts can be provided
Leaks
Extensively damaged
9
It should be noted that pouring
the contents of car engines and
car batteries into drains, water
bodies and on the ground is illegal
in Norway.
Extensive rust/ weak body
Without tyres
EXPORT OF CAR SPARE PARTS
Do not export car spare parts containing liquids or other hazardous components. For
example, car engines should not contain oil and oil filters should also be removed.
Car engine containing oil
Do not export car spare parts that are damaged or covered with rust (especially car fenders
and doors. Spare parts should be clean and without leaks.
Leaks
10
Damaged muffler
As you can see, there are very strict regulations governing the export of «used goods» from
Norway. In cases of doubt, you should contact SFT.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:
www.sft.no
www.impeltfs.eu
www.bipro.de/waste-events/
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/shipments/guidance.htm
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/shipments/index.htm
http://www.umweltbundesamt.de/abfallwirtschaft-e/gav/index.htm
http://www.vrom.nl/docs/IMPEL-TFS.pdf
http://www.royalhaskoning.com/Royal_
11
Norwegian Pollution Control Authority
P.O.Box 8100 Dep.
NO–0032 Oslo
Norway
Visiting address: Strømsveien 96
Telephone: +47 22 57 34 00
Telefax: +47 22 67 67 06
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.sft.no
Printing: GRØSET™
- Production is climateneutral with compensation
for CO2 emission